SAY NO TO LEAGUE 3: Bodin slams the proposals

FORMER Swindon Town head of youth Paul Bodin has added his voice to those opposing proposals by the Football Association to enter Premier League B teams into a new League Three by 2016/17.

Bodin, who spent the best part of 20 years at the County Ground in spells as a player and coach, believes some of the plans made by FA chairman Greg Dyke’s commission favour only the teams in the Premier League and towards the top of the Football League pyramid.

The commission’s blueprint suggests 10 top-flight second teams join a division between League Two and the Conference, with the top 10 non-league sides making up a 20-team league.

It also advocated a limit on the number of foreign players allowed in those squads and facilitates a restriction on the number of non-EU players eligible for a work permit.

The commission’s intention is to help England’s national team develop more top-quality players, but Bodin feels it is neglecting the wants and needs of clubs and youth academies lower down the footballing structure in this country.

He told the Advertiser: “I think it’s catering for the big boys yet again. It’s elitism, isn’t it? The lower clubs, financially, will suffer dramatically. It’s a pyramid, it’s a great pyramid - the fact that two teams come up from the Conference now is a wonderful incentive for all these smaller clubs to play League football.

“It’s designed to develop youth but I’m not 100 per cent sure it will do that. The big clubs just hoover up as much as they possibly can - with eights to 16s and now from 16s to 21s.

“The big clubs have under 18 teams, under 19 teams and under 21 teams, with 20 players in each squad, which have to go into the B team. How can a youth team player ever going to progress through and get in a first team when there are so many players in front of them?

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“Players love playing, players like to be out on the pitch as much as they can. It’s been created by the amount of money they get to stay in the Premier and it’s harder and harder for youth players to get through.

“If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.”

Bodin was in charge of the youth team at Town during the advent of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), which effectively gave big clubs the chance to cherry pick local talent at reduced fees.

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He feels as though the League Three proposal is an extension of that theory, saying: “The EPPP was really set up for the Premier League. Everyone has to fall in place because they’re so powerful and again, these proposals are designed to help them not help football in general. We can say grassroots football needs looking at and that’s true but they’re not really interested in that because they just go in their own direction.

“It’s elitism, it’s protecting their own and not really doing enough homework to see how it would affect the lower down clubs, who survive on 1,000 or 2,000 gates. I’m sure they’ll be less money filtered down, as there is every season.”

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Comments (19)

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?Haydonender

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Score: -1

Moonraker1983 says...8:28am Wed 14 May 14

Haydonender wrote…

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?

[quote][p][bold]Haydonender[/bold] wrote:
Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?[/p][/quote]Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?Moonraker1983

Haydonender wrote…

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?

Score: 4

GiulianoGrazioli says...8:31am Wed 14 May 14

scrap the league 3 idea... how about a basic rule... up the amount of loans any club can have for players under the age of 21 if they are English.. therefore, could force clubs to loan young english players and give them more first team football....simple.

scrap the league 3 idea...
how about a basic rule... up the amount of loans any club can have for players under the age of 21 if they are English.. therefore, could force clubs to loan young english players and give them more first team football....simple.GiulianoGrazioli

scrap the league 3 idea... how about a basic rule... up the amount of loans any club can have for players under the age of 21 if they are English.. therefore, could force clubs to loan young english players and give them more first team football....simple.

Score: 5

smirg kcab says...9:38am Wed 14 May 14

Moonraker1983 wrote…

Haydonender wrote…

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?

Perhaps that's why the court hearing is on Friday, killing two birds with one stone.

[quote][p][bold]Moonraker1983[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Haydonender[/bold] wrote:
Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?[/p][/quote]Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?[/p][/quote]Perhaps that's why the court hearing is on Friday, killing two birds with one stone.smirg kcab

Moonraker1983 wrote…

Haydonender wrote…

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?

Perhaps that's why the court hearing is on Friday, killing two birds with one stone.

Score: 2

mowey33 says...9:55am Wed 14 May 14

league 3 is all about the premiership. what about championship, league 1 and league 2 clubs who also have youngsters but cannot get them experience to get them into the first team? Every club has reserves and most teams have a youth team or scholarship players on the books. what happens to all of them? Premiership B teams will just be their reserve side that are full of first team players that are on the edge of getting into the first team. It will still be full of foreigners and not home grown talent, just look at the youth cup on tv with the prem sides and half of the team or more are foreign. Just Prem teams and the F.A wanting more money. I agree with Paul Bodin there is so much talent in the reserves and youth teams but the managers in charge do not have the balls anymore to bring them through. 1 instance this season has been ross barkley at everton - given the chance and now off to brazil. Southampton are the club to look to as they have the philosophy of bringing alent up into the team. Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, not to mention theo walcott and gareth bale. Too many clubs look for easy options of buying players instead of nurturing talent through. To all premiership teams GET A GRIP and SOD off with your B teams, League 3, Money grabbing scheme

league 3 is all about the premiership. what about championship, league 1 and league 2 clubs who also have youngsters but cannot get them experience to get them into the first team?
Every club has reserves and most teams have a youth team or scholarship players on the books. what happens to all of them?
Premiership B teams will just be their reserve side that are full of first team players that are on the edge of getting into the first team. It will still be full of foreigners and not home grown talent, just look at the youth cup on tv with the prem sides and half of the team or more are foreign. Just Prem teams and the F.A wanting more money.
I agree with Paul Bodin there is so much talent in the reserves and youth teams but the managers in charge do not have the balls anymore to bring them through.
1 instance this season has been ross barkley at everton - given the chance and now off to brazil.
Southampton are the club to look to as they have the philosophy of bringing alent up into the team. Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, not to mention theo walcott and gareth bale.
Too many clubs look for easy options of buying players instead of nurturing talent through.
To all premiership teams GET A GRIP and SOD off with your B teams, League 3, Money grabbing schememowey33

league 3 is all about the premiership. what about championship, league 1 and league 2 clubs who also have youngsters but cannot get them experience to get them into the first team? Every club has reserves and most teams have a youth team or scholarship players on the books. what happens to all of them? Premiership B teams will just be their reserve side that are full of first team players that are on the edge of getting into the first team. It will still be full of foreigners and not home grown talent, just look at the youth cup on tv with the prem sides and half of the team or more are foreign. Just Prem teams and the F.A wanting more money. I agree with Paul Bodin there is so much talent in the reserves and youth teams but the managers in charge do not have the balls anymore to bring them through. 1 instance this season has been ross barkley at everton - given the chance and now off to brazil. Southampton are the club to look to as they have the philosophy of bringing alent up into the team. Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, not to mention theo walcott and gareth bale. Too many clubs look for easy options of buying players instead of nurturing talent through. To all premiership teams GET A GRIP and SOD off with your B teams, League 3, Money grabbing scheme

Score: 6

the wizard says...10:15am Wed 14 May 14

Moonraker1983 wrote…

Haydonender wrote…

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?

Totally agree, but don't worry about it, and I think PB's issues have been sorted out, quite a while back if memory serves. Jock goes to the aways and always posts a pretty true account of how the game has gone, and often gets slated for it, some people just can't bear the truth.

[quote][p][bold]Moonraker1983[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Haydonender[/bold] wrote:
Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?[/p][/quote]Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?[/p][/quote]Totally agree, but don't worry about it, and I think PB's issues have been sorted out, quite a while back if memory serves.
Jock goes to the aways and always posts a pretty true account of how the game has gone, and often gets slated for it, some people just can't bear the truth.the wizard

Moonraker1983 wrote…

Haydonender wrote…

Is he still suing the club over his stress related illness or did I miss the resolution to that?

Minus 3 score for asking a question? Who's actually using the vote buttons? I mean, what's the point? It's not like top comments go to the top and bad ones are removed?

Totally agree, but don't worry about it, and I think PB's issues have been sorted out, quite a while back if memory serves. Jock goes to the aways and always posts a pretty true account of how the game has gone, and often gets slated for it, some people just can't bear the truth.

Score: -5

Wilesy says...1:03pm Wed 14 May 14

"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world

"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.”
Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance.
Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world.
The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role.
Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the worldWilesy

"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world

Score: 0

Swindon1984 says...1:14pm Wed 14 May 14

Wilesy wrote…

"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world

Was kind of the point I made yesterday - football's a results driven business and clubs will utilise the most effective players at the lowest cost they can get their hands on. Nurturing young talent is costly, time consuming and may end up with you losing them for peanuts just before they get into your first team, as if a bigger club comes knocking they'll be gone. It's no wonder clubs - ours included - bring in talent from abroad as the players are ready to go and tend to be cheaper. Consider the fans also - a very noble thing bringing through young homegrown talent, but if we tried to get through a season blooding young players and it got us relegated, we'd probably be the first to complain. The nature of the game and EVERYONE involved in it, means these questions will keep coming up. And there really are no easy answers.

[quote][p][bold]Wilesy[/bold] wrote:
"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world[/p][/quote]Was kind of the point I made yesterday - football's a results driven business and clubs will utilise the most effective players at the lowest cost they can get their hands on. Nurturing young talent is costly, time consuming and may end up with you losing them for peanuts just before they get into your first team, as if a bigger club comes knocking they'll be gone. It's no wonder clubs - ours included - bring in talent from abroad as the players are ready to go and tend to be cheaper.
Consider the fans also - a very noble thing bringing through young homegrown talent, but if we tried to get through a season blooding young players and it got us relegated, we'd probably be the first to complain. The nature of the game and EVERYONE involved in it, means these questions will keep coming up. And there really are no easy answers.Swindon1984

Wilesy wrote…

"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world

Was kind of the point I made yesterday - football's a results driven business and clubs will utilise the most effective players at the lowest cost they can get their hands on. Nurturing young talent is costly, time consuming and may end up with you losing them for peanuts just before they get into your first team, as if a bigger club comes knocking they'll be gone. It's no wonder clubs - ours included - bring in talent from abroad as the players are ready to go and tend to be cheaper. Consider the fans also - a very noble thing bringing through young homegrown talent, but if we tried to get through a season blooding young players and it got us relegated, we'd probably be the first to complain. The nature of the game and EVERYONE involved in it, means these questions will keep coming up. And there really are no easy answers.

Score: -1

London Red says...2:28pm Wed 14 May 14

Swindon1984 wrote…

Wilesy wrote…

"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world

Was kind of the point I made yesterday - football's a results driven business and clubs will utilise the most effective players at the lowest cost they can get their hands on. Nurturing young talent is costly, time consuming and may end up with you losing them for peanuts just before they get into your first team, as if a bigger club comes knocking they'll be gone. It's no wonder clubs - ours included - bring in talent from abroad as the players are ready to go and tend to be cheaper. Consider the fans also - a very noble thing bringing through young homegrown talent, but if we tried to get through a season blooding young players and it got us relegated, we'd probably be the first to complain. The nature of the game and EVERYONE involved in it, means these questions will keep coming up. And there really are no easy answers.

Its the blend that is important - and if we keep pushing 1 maybe 2 through a year then to me that is success - so we had Strorey play and get a contract extension, now Louis - If jones makes it great - thats one a season! . If every club did the same that would see 92-184 players progress every season! . I wish FFP was actually about financial fair play as that might stop the blockages which occur . Take Leicester - their Chairman has saif he is porepared to spend £80m to take them to the top 5 - but must be wary of FFP only allowing them losses of over £100m in that 3 year plan . Losses of only £100m - really FFP! That not going to see him go out and splash millions on run of the mill foreigners in a quest for a quick route to Europe! . If losses were tighter controlled or wages restricted to revenue like in L1 and L2 (actual revenue and not dodgy deals like Masn City and PSG) then we may see clubs like Chelsea actually play Ryan Bertrand (An England Internaitonal and Champions League winner) rather than going out an spending millions on some unheard of European or South American LB because they can! . The other thing is to make the 25 man squad just that a 25 man squad! . Currently its 25 over 21s with unlimited number under that - so the likes of Barkley, Shaw, Jenkinson, Courtois, Stones etc can be "left out" of squads and their spot filled with run of the mill foreigners - actually increasing the numbers to 30+ . By limiting them it would mean they can't stock pile as much! . Also maybe the number of loans out should be limited - to prevent stock piling - Chelsea for example had 24 players out on loan! . How can a club have an entire squad out on loan? That means they have far far too many players and ar ewasting talent!

[quote][p][bold]Swindon1984[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Wilesy[/bold] wrote: "If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world[/p][/quote]Was kind of the point I made yesterday - football's a results driven business and clubs will utilise the most effective players at the lowest cost they can get their hands on. Nurturing young talent is costly, time consuming and may end up with you losing them for peanuts just before they get into your first team, as if a bigger club comes knocking they'll be gone. It's no wonder clubs - ours included - bring in talent from abroad as the players are ready to go and tend to be cheaper. Consider the fans also - a very noble thing bringing through young homegrown talent, but if we tried to get through a season blooding young players and it got us relegated, we'd probably be the first to complain. The nature of the game and EVERYONE involved in it, means these questions will keep coming up. And there really are no easy answers.[/p][/quote]Its the blend that is important - and if we keep pushing 1 maybe 2 through a year then to me that is success - so we had Strorey play and get a contract extension, now Louis - If jones makes it great - thats one a season!
.
If every club did the same that would see 92-184 players progress every season!
.
I wish FFP was actually about financial fair play as that might stop the blockages which occur
.
Take Leicester - their Chairman has saif he is porepared to spend £80m to take them to the top 5 - but must be wary of FFP only allowing them losses of over £100m in that 3 year plan
.
Losses of only £100m - really FFP! That not going to see him go out and splash millions on run of the mill foreigners in a quest for a quick route to Europe!
.
If losses were tighter controlled or wages restricted to revenue like in L1 and L2 (actual revenue and not dodgy deals like Masn City and PSG) then we may see clubs like Chelsea actually play Ryan Bertrand (An England Internaitonal and Champions League winner) rather than going out an spending millions on some unheard of European or South American LB because they can!
.
The other thing is to make the 25 man squad just that a 25 man squad!
.
Currently its 25 over 21s with unlimited number under that - so the likes of Barkley, Shaw, Jenkinson, Courtois, Stones etc can be "left out" of squads and their spot filled with run of the mill foreigners - actually increasing the numbers to 30+
.
By limiting them it would mean they can't stock pile as much!
.
Also maybe the number of loans out should be limited - to prevent stock piling - Chelsea for example had 24 players out on loan!
.
How can a club have an entire squad out on loan? That means they have far far too many players and ar ewasting talent!London Red

Swindon1984 wrote…

Wilesy wrote…

"If you’ve got the right philosophy at your football club you don’t need a B league, you just need to be braver and play more homegrown players. It’s quite simple, really.” Regardless of the impact of the B League, you could say that as a club we are contributing to it all by not giving our home grown much of a chance. One or two have made it through, but in general the philosophy has been to bring players in rather than give our lads a chance. Take Louis Thompson, a really exciting prospect, but at the start of the season the club could have said right let's give Louis his chance, but instead showed its true colours by getting in Kasim, Harley, Luongo, and Mason. Through injuries Louis got his chance and has played really well, yet despite his 30+ games I still get the impression that he is not first choice in Cooper's ideal world. The same applies to Storey, I know his ability has been debated at length but rather than show faith and build his confidence, he again is only a bit part player, while Smith, Ajose, Ranger, and other non-strikers like Mason, Gladwin and Barker have been brought in and played in the strikers role. Is there really a genuine goal of bringing through players into the first team, at Swindon or anywhere else other than Crewe? How many Man City or Chelsea players have come through the youth team route in the last 10 years. Even if they cherry pick the best and pay a nominal fee eg Henshall, there is no prospect of them breaking through into the first team when the billionaire owners can buy the best in the world

Was kind of the point I made yesterday - football's a results driven business and clubs will utilise the most effective players at the lowest cost they can get their hands on. Nurturing young talent is costly, time consuming and may end up with you losing them for peanuts just before they get into your first team, as if a bigger club comes knocking they'll be gone. It's no wonder clubs - ours included - bring in talent from abroad as the players are ready to go and tend to be cheaper. Consider the fans also - a very noble thing bringing through young homegrown talent, but if we tried to get through a season blooding young players and it got us relegated, we'd probably be the first to complain. The nature of the game and EVERYONE involved in it, means these questions will keep coming up. And there really are no easy answers.

Its the blend that is important - and if we keep pushing 1 maybe 2 through a year then to me that is success - so we had Strorey play and get a contract extension, now Louis - If jones makes it great - thats one a season! . If every club did the same that would see 92-184 players progress every season! . I wish FFP was actually about financial fair play as that might stop the blockages which occur . Take Leicester - their Chairman has saif he is porepared to spend £80m to take them to the top 5 - but must be wary of FFP only allowing them losses of over £100m in that 3 year plan . Losses of only £100m - really FFP! That not going to see him go out and splash millions on run of the mill foreigners in a quest for a quick route to Europe! . If losses were tighter controlled or wages restricted to revenue like in L1 and L2 (actual revenue and not dodgy deals like Masn City and PSG) then we may see clubs like Chelsea actually play Ryan Bertrand (An England Internaitonal and Champions League winner) rather than going out an spending millions on some unheard of European or South American LB because they can! . The other thing is to make the 25 man squad just that a 25 man squad! . Currently its 25 over 21s with unlimited number under that - so the likes of Barkley, Shaw, Jenkinson, Courtois, Stones etc can be "left out" of squads and their spot filled with run of the mill foreigners - actually increasing the numbers to 30+ . By limiting them it would mean they can't stock pile as much! . Also maybe the number of loans out should be limited - to prevent stock piling - Chelsea for example had 24 players out on loan! . How can a club have an entire squad out on loan? That means they have far far too many players and ar ewasting talent!

Score: 3

lifelong red says...3:02pm Wed 14 May 14

I think that sometimes , managers of top prem clubs - whilst under pressure from rich owners to get results - are therefore reluctant to blood home grown talent in favour of expensive - usually foreign players . Love him or hate him , I think that Alex Ferguson was a lesson to all , on how to combine big money signings whilst blooding and nurturing home grown talent.

I think that sometimes , managers of top prem clubs - whilst under pressure from rich owners to get results - are therefore reluctant to blood home grown talent in favour of expensive - usually foreign players . Love him or hate him , I think that Alex Ferguson was a lesson to all , on how to combine big money signings whilst blooding and nurturing home grown talent.lifelong red

I think that sometimes , managers of top prem clubs - whilst under pressure from rich owners to get results - are therefore reluctant to blood home grown talent in favour of expensive - usually foreign players . Love him or hate him , I think that Alex Ferguson was a lesson to all , on how to combine big money signings whilst blooding and nurturing home grown talent.

Score: 4

Old-Stager, Hilperton says...3:31pm Wed 14 May 14

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

But just how important is our International team to you ?
Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with.
How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.Old-Stager, Hilperton

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

Score: 4

Wilesy says...3:45pm Wed 14 May 14

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

[quote][p][bold]Old-Stager, Hilperton[/bold] wrote:
But just how important is our International team to you ?
Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with.
How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.[/p][/quote]1) STFC
2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime
3) English teams doing well in Champions LeagueWilesy

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

Score: 0

lifelong red says...4:08pm Wed 14 May 14

Wilesy wrote…

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

Ditto

[quote][p][bold]Wilesy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Old-Stager, Hilperton[/bold] wrote:
But just how important is our International team to you ?
Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with.
How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.[/p][/quote]1) STFC
2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime
3) English teams doing well in Champions League[/p][/quote]Dittolifelong red

Wilesy wrote…

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

Ditto

Score: 0

London Red says...6:03pm Wed 14 May 14

lifelong red wrote…

Wilesy wrote…

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

Ditto

If you get it right you can have both as Spain showed during their golden generation - 3 titles in a row and club football prospering from it . People woudn't be so anti England had our golden generation actually delivered! . Now I would love to see Swindon players go on and star in the Champions League and on a World Stage - as I'm sure Stockport and Saints fan love seeing their old boys doing well for example . I hope football is changed to give us a better chance of getting great youths and then great youths getting a chance to go on and progress - L3 is not the answer but tackling youth development is - which as said done right - would benefit club and international football

[quote][p][bold]lifelong red[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Wilesy[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Old-Stager, Hilperton[/bold] wrote: But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.[/p][/quote]1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League[/p][/quote]Ditto[/p][/quote]If you get it right you can have both as Spain showed during their golden generation - 3 titles in a row and club football prospering from it
.
People woudn't be so anti England had our golden generation actually delivered!
.
Now I would love to see Swindon players go on and star in the Champions League and on a World Stage - as I'm sure Stockport and Saints fan love seeing their old boys doing well for example
.
I hope football is changed to give us a better chance of getting great youths and then great youths getting a chance to go on and progress - L3 is not the answer but tackling youth development is - which as said done right - would benefit club and international footballLondon Red

lifelong red wrote…

Wilesy wrote…

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

Ditto

If you get it right you can have both as Spain showed during their golden generation - 3 titles in a row and club football prospering from it . People woudn't be so anti England had our golden generation actually delivered! . Now I would love to see Swindon players go on and star in the Champions League and on a World Stage - as I'm sure Stockport and Saints fan love seeing their old boys doing well for example . I hope football is changed to give us a better chance of getting great youths and then great youths getting a chance to go on and progress - L3 is not the answer but tackling youth development is - which as said done right - would benefit club and international football

Score: 1

mancrobin says...12:37am Thu 15 May 14

London Red wrote…

lifelong red wrote…

Wilesy wrote…

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

Ditto

If you get it right you can have both as Spain showed during their golden generation - 3 titles in a row and club football prospering from it . People woudn't be so anti England had our golden generation actually delivered! . Now I would love to see Swindon players go on and star in the Champions League and on a World Stage - as I'm sure Stockport and Saints fan love seeing their old boys doing well for example . I hope football is changed to give us a better chance of getting great youths and then great youths getting a chance to go on and progress - L3 is not the answer but tackling youth development is - which as said done right - would benefit club and international football

Again, well said LR. Totally agree with your point and I can't see this choice between club and country. It's all about identity and many are quite happy to have many. I am a proud Town fan and England fan. In fact, I will support any English team when playing in a European competition. That might even extend to Oxford if we can deny the boundaries of reality. As for Lambert, I remember seeing him playing against the Town at Stockport, probably over 10 years ago. He smashed in a free kick from 25 yards and totally dominated the match. Couldn't understand why he was playing in League 1. He's prove why now. Hope Ricky does really well in Brazil. He's a class act.

[quote][p][bold]London Red[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]lifelong red[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Wilesy[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Old-Stager, Hilperton[/bold] wrote: But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.[/p][/quote]1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League[/p][/quote]Ditto[/p][/quote]If you get it right you can have both as Spain showed during their golden generation - 3 titles in a row and club football prospering from it
.
People woudn't be so anti England had our golden generation actually delivered!
.
Now I would love to see Swindon players go on and star in the Champions League and on a World Stage - as I'm sure Stockport and Saints fan love seeing their old boys doing well for example
.
I hope football is changed to give us a better chance of getting great youths and then great youths getting a chance to go on and progress - L3 is not the answer but tackling youth development is - which as said done right - would benefit club and international football[/p][/quote]Again, well said LR. Totally agree with your point and I can't see this choice between club and country. It's all about identity and many are quite happy to have many. I am a proud Town fan and England fan. In fact, I will support any English team when playing in a European competition. That might even extend to Oxford if we can deny the boundaries of reality.
As for Lambert, I remember seeing him playing against the Town at Stockport, probably over 10 years ago. He smashed in a free kick from 25 yards and totally dominated the match. Couldn't understand why he was playing in League 1. He's prove why now. Hope Ricky does really well in Brazil. He's a class act.mancrobin

London Red wrote…

lifelong red wrote…

Wilesy wrote…

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote…

But just how important is our International team to you ? Of course I support England because I am English born and bred, but my first love in Football is Swindon Town; and therefore I do not want the Idiot Dyke to ruin the entire traditional Football Pyramid for the Lower League and the Non League clubs just to accommodate his aspiration to change everything he comes into contact with. How on earth has this idiot ended up in charge of the Football Association.

1) STFC 2) England, and the dream of winning a major championship in my lifetime 3) English teams doing well in Champions League

Ditto

If you get it right you can have both as Spain showed during their golden generation - 3 titles in a row and club football prospering from it . People woudn't be so anti England had our golden generation actually delivered! . Now I would love to see Swindon players go on and star in the Champions League and on a World Stage - as I'm sure Stockport and Saints fan love seeing their old boys doing well for example . I hope football is changed to give us a better chance of getting great youths and then great youths getting a chance to go on and progress - L3 is not the answer but tackling youth development is - which as said done right - would benefit club and international football

Again, well said LR. Totally agree with your point and I can't see this choice between club and country. It's all about identity and many are quite happy to have many. I am a proud Town fan and England fan. In fact, I will support any English team when playing in a European competition. That might even extend to Oxford if we can deny the boundaries of reality. As for Lambert, I remember seeing him playing against the Town at Stockport, probably over 10 years ago. He smashed in a free kick from 25 yards and totally dominated the match. Couldn't understand why he was playing in League 1. He's prove why now. Hope Ricky does really well in Brazil. He's a class act.

Score: 1

mancrobin says...12:44am Thu 15 May 14

Agree with Paul Bodin's comments. When he was temporarily in charge at the Town, I saw them play at Tranmere for the last game of the season. He put in a lot of youngsters and they were fantastic. I'm going back a few years now and one of them was a very young Miles Storey. He was electric. Didn't then feature for a long time. Why not?

Agree with Paul Bodin's comments. When he was temporarily in charge at the Town, I saw them play at Tranmere for the last game of the season. He put in a lot of youngsters and they were fantastic. I'm going back a few years now and one of them was a very young Miles Storey. He was electric. Didn't then feature for a long time. Why not?mancrobin

Agree with Paul Bodin's comments. When he was temporarily in charge at the Town, I saw them play at Tranmere for the last game of the season. He put in a lot of youngsters and they were fantastic. I'm going back a few years now and one of them was a very young Miles Storey. He was electric. Didn't then feature for a long time. Why not?

Score: 2

bookiered says...10:39am Thu 15 May 14

Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.

Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.bookiered

Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.

Score: 0

Oi Den! says...10:58am Thu 15 May 14

bookiered wrote…

Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.

Yes, it's the simple answer and the blindingly obvious one. Not sure why there's any need to look beyond it.

[quote][p][bold]bookiered[/bold] wrote:
Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.[/p][/quote]Yes, it's the simple answer and the blindingly obvious one. Not sure why there's any need to look beyond it.Oi Den!

bookiered wrote…

Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.

Yes, it's the simple answer and the blindingly obvious one. Not sure why there's any need to look beyond it.

Score: 0

Old-Stager, Hilperton says...5:30pm Thu 15 May 14

Oi Den! wrote…

bookiered wrote…

Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.

Yes, it's the simple answer and the blindingly obvious one. Not sure why there's any need to look beyond it.

I agree Oi Den, it is blindingly obvious as you say, and you would have thought that even a Dullard like Greg Dykecould have worked that one out.

[quote][p][bold]Oi Den![/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]bookiered[/bold] wrote:
Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.[/p][/quote]Yes, it's the simple answer and the blindingly obvious one. Not sure why there's any need to look beyond it.[/p][/quote]I agree Oi Den, it is blindingly obvious as you say, and you would have thought that even a Dullard like Greg Dykecould have worked that one out.Old-Stager, Hilperton

Oi Den! wrote…

bookiered wrote…

Why not simply have a league for reserve teams, maybe call it Football Combination. It would not need to involve a separate place in the hierarchy, just to be supported and taken seriously by the teams involved. Of course if the Premiership teams took this seriously and all entered such a league it would be eminently marketable as well as providing development opportunities for young players.

Yes, it's the simple answer and the blindingly obvious one. Not sure why there's any need to look beyond it.

I agree Oi Den, it is blindingly obvious as you say, and you would have thought that even a Dullard like Greg Dykecould have worked that one out.

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